In the Gospel of Mark we read the word "immediately" over and over again. I find in this word a deliberateness. Jesus knew where He was going and what He was doing. This was through the guidance of the Spirit. I learn, as a parent, that I must also be deliberate with my children, i.e. have a plan and follow it through. I mustn't postpone and procrastinate. I must also expect immediate obedience from my children.
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. Mark 1:25-26
Jesus was authoritative in all aspects. But here it focuses on His authority over the evil spirits, powers and dominions. As a parent I learn that I must be authoritative when I see the sin in my children's lives.
"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven...Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these ones who believe in me to sin it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea" Matt 18v2-6
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven...So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." Matt18v10&14
"The children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. And He laid His hands on them and went away." Matt 19v13-15
I am praying that the Lord will give me such a heart that truly loves children the way Jesus did; to see in each one of them the image of God and their immortal souls. I know I haven't been loving my children this way. My love has been selfish. I pray that the Lord will change this.
Here is an excerpt from another book I am reading: Raising your Child to love God by Andrew Murray. I think it is beautiful:
"It was by faith that Moses' parents saw he was no ordinary child (Heb11:23). The natural love of a parent's heart doubtless made the child a beautiful one in the mother's eyes, but faith saw more than nature could. God opened the eyes, and there was the consciousness of something special, of a spiritual beauty that made their baby doubly precious. And so the eye of faith sees in each little one a divine goodness. Is this not a being created in God's image with the faint light of a divine glory, of an immortal life, shining from it? Here is an object of the great redemption, destined to be a partaker of the precious blood and the Holy Spirit of Jesus, to be the object of the joy of angels and God's everlasting love and pleasure - a child whose worth exceeds that of the whole world; a child that even in this life can be a brother of Jesus, a servant of God, a blessing for the immortal spirits of his fellowmen. Surely faith may call the newborn unspeakably fair, seeing him shining as a jewel in the crown of the Lamb - His joy and His glory. We have indeed a surer hope than ever Moses' parents had, and a brighter light in which the heavenly beauty of our offspring is reflected. O Father, open the eyes of all your people, that in each little one you give them their faith may see an extraordinary child.
Simeon (2 and a half years) really enjoyed this. Take one packet of two minute noodles and prepare it with the flavour. Drain the water and divide into four bowls. Use food colouring to colour the noodles in the different bowls. I used red, blue, green and yellow.
Show him the different colours. ask him to feel the noodles and to smell the noodles. When he tastes it ask him whether it is bitter like a grapefruit, or sour like a lemon, or sweet like a chocolate. No, it is salty.
Then take the different coloured noodles and put on a sheet of paper to make a collage.
I really enjoyed doing this activity with Simeon
If one considers the 3 years that Jesus spent with His disciples, one sees that He was always with them. They ate, drank and lived togather. Theye moved from town to town and went through the valley of the shadow of death together (when they were in the storms). They saw Him preach, teach, love, heal and share. They saw His love for and joy in the Father. All this was only possible because He was with them day in and day out to model how they should live through every situation that could cross their paths.
In the same way, we as parents (and especially mothers) must be present in our children's lives, taking them through every moment and showing them how that should live and react in each circumstance. Realising this, I have stopped wanting instant results from my disciplining methods and have seen how I can teach Simeon the how to's of this life. I have realised that this is a journey, not a one-stop shop. I also see the incredible privilege of discipling a little one in this life.
At the same time, I love Jesus Christ for His way of teaching. How gentle, how compassionate, how patient! What a Saviour!
"Come to me, all who labout and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt11:28-30
If we are to follow Christ's example as a trainer, we have to constantly go back to Him in all moments, but especially in moments when you are burdened and tired and afraid. He is compassionate and willing to help us and to give us a load which is much lighter and bearable. I experienced this this weekend when my precious son was sick. It turned out he had bronchitis after we took him to the hospital 22:30, Saturday night. I always start of making the mistake in believing that I have to face these trials alone. But that is not true. Christ is with me and will guide me and strengthen me. He is our strength when we are weak.
